Cubs’ Nico Hoerner sprains ankle in ‘fluke’ collision with umpire

SAN DIEGO — Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner was watching the flight of the long fly ball to center field and running out to serve as the cutoff man.

“I was on the ground before I really realized what happened,” Hoerner said after the Cubs’ 7-5 win against the Padres on Wednesday.

Hoerner left the Cubs’ 7-5 win against the Padres early with a right ankle sprain, after a collision with an umpire. The Cubs will be able to determine the severity of the sprain when the swelling goes down.

In the first inning, with switch-hitter Jurickson Profar up to bat, Hoerner was shifted over to shallow right field. When Profar hit a triple off the center field wall, Hoerner ran back and to his right while second base umpire Dan Iassognaran out to make the catch/no-catch call.

“I’m seeing the ball and trying to pick up the fielder,” Iassogna told the pool reporter. “When I made my initial look, I didn’t see anybody. I thought I had an open road.”

Neither saw the other until they collided and Hoerner fell to the ground.

Cubs manager David Ross and an athletic trainer checked on Hoerner after the play, and the shortstop stayed in for the rest of the inning and his next at-bat. Ildemaro Vargas replaced Hoerner in the field in the bottom of the second inning.

“We were both just doing our jobs, and weird things happen sometimes,” Hoerner said.

Cubs manager David Ross said he’d never seen a play like that before.

“I know Dan feels terrible. He was checking on him here after the game,” Ross said. “It’s just one of those fluke things.”

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